<span style="color: #222222;">UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed gratitude for India's contribution to the United Nations and its peacekeeping missions. <br />'' <br />'' He stressed on the inspiring role Indian women have played for the world body to help maintain international peace and security.<br />'' <br />'' Mr Guterres was speaking in New York at a special tea reception hosted by India's Permanent Mission to the UN to commemorate the International Day of UN Peacekeepers and "pay homage to those who couldn't return" after their service in the missions.<br />'' <br />'' He said, India at present contributes about 6,400 peacekeepers to various missions across the world. <br />'' <br />'' The UN Secretary-General said, India has been an example of commitment to the United Nations Charter, to the values of the UN and with the sacrifice of their women and men through peacekeeping.<br />'' <br />'' He said, India has the largest percentage of women in the police force, at around 32 per cent, which is remarkable and is an extraordinary contribution to the future of peacekeeping.<br />'' <br />'' The event, attended by UN ambassadors and diplomats, police and military personnel from peacekeeping, has become an annual tradition along with other solemn ceremonies conducted at the world body's headquarters. <br />'' <br />'' Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support Atul Khare were also present during the event.<br />'' <br />'' India's UN envoy Syed Akbaruddin said that the country pays homage to those who couldn't return after their service in the UN peacekeeping. <br />'' <br />'' Mr Akbaruddin said, Peacekeeping has been a difficult endeavour but it has not deterred them from working together for international peace and security.<br />'' <br />''<br />''Marking the day, Guterres laid a wreath to honour the fallen peacekeepers and honoured 119 brave men and women with the prestigious Dag Hammarskjold medal for their courage and sacrifice in the line of duty.</span>