Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has received the Liberty Medal for his global human rights work and commitment to international conflict resolution.
The Philadelphia-based National Constitution Centre gives the award annually to individuals or organisations whose actions strive to bring liberty to people worldwide.
Mr Blair was honoured for his work with the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, which promotes religious tolerance; for his initiative to improve governance in Africa; and for advancing peace in Northern Ireland and the Middle East, among other efforts.
After accepting the award from former US President Bill Clinton, he said that liberty is the result of “ordinary human beings doing extraordinary things in the midst of Earth-changing events.”
The tribute comes amid a publicity tour for his best-selling memoir,”A Journey,” which was released earlier this month.
The autobiography re-energised British and Irish anti-war protesters, who continue to blast Mr Blair for supporting the US invasion of Iraq.
A hostile crowd threw shoes and eggs at him at a book-signing in Dublin this month, and he cancelled a similar event in London for fear of disruption.
But the former Prime Minister received a much warmer reception at the Constitution Centre in Philadelphia, where a friendly crowd of about 1,250 watched the outdoor ceremony within sight of Independence Hall.
Mr Clinton, the centre’s chairman noted Tony Blair’s support for intervention in Kosovo in 1999 to prevent ethnic cleansing, and for his current role as a representative in the Middle East peace process.
The former president thanked him for being a “wonderful world citizen” and “living a life worthy of this award.”
Previous winners have included filmmaker Steven Spielberg, former South African President Nelson Mandela and former US President Jimmy Carter.
Six winners have subsequently received the Nobel Peace Prize.