Sean Penn will be honoured with the 2012 Peace Summit Award in Chicago, Illinois next month (Apr12) for his tireless humanitarian efforts in Haiti.
The Oscar winner will receive the award given to President Barack Obama in 2009, during the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, which will be held from 23 April to 25 April (12).
According to committee officials, Penn is being recognised for his work "to rebuild and aid the victims of the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, as well as his ongoing advocacy for peace and human rights protection worldwide".
A statement from the actor reads, "(This is) an extraordinary honour in an extraordinary moment on Earth."
Penn adds, "It's difficult to properly respond to this while avoiding cliche, but quite deliberately, I'm thrilled to receive this tribute and to represent it to the youth of Haiti, the strong women of Haiti, and of the world. Tomorrow is a new day where cynicism is for cowards, and men of virtue and agency will be true heroes to their sons."
Eleven Nobel Peace Prize winners and nine Laureate organisations are scheduled to attend the Summit - the first time the annual get together has been held in North America.