US President Barack Obama presented the nation's highest civilian honour to 16 recipients during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington.

Obama gave a Medal of Freedom to the South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu and other 15 international personalities including scientist Stephen Hawking, actor Sydney Poitier and Hispanic artist Chita Rivera.

"They are an example to US and all around the world of what we can achieve in our lives," said Obama during the ceremony in which he also honoured former Irish president Mary Robinson, the creator of the microcredit Muhammed Yunus, the first openly gay politician Harvey Milk who passed away in 1978 and Senator Edward Kennedy, among others.

Obama gave the Medal of Freedom to 1984 Peace Nobel Tutu due to his fight against the apartheid, also gave the medal to Hawking adding that he deserved it because he "opened new doors in science and inspired people all over the world."