Senator Hanson-Young today questioned whether Mr Howard's record on human rights made him deserving of the highest civilian honour that can be bestowed by a US president.

President George W Bush will confer the award on his friends - including British former prime minister Tony Blair and Columbia's president Alvaro Uribe - in an East Room ceremony on January 13, exactly a week before he leaves office.

"I find it ironic that a prime minister who has locked children up in detention, who has refused to apologise to the stolen generations and who has participated in a war in a Iraq that has been a debacle is given a medal for human rights and freedom," Senator Hanson-Young said.

"This award is more about George Bush patting his mates on the back than promoting some type of leadership in human rights."

Mr Howard is being honoured for his role in fighting terrorism and in standing by the US as an ally during his 11 years as prime minister.

Mr Howard said he was honoured, but more because of the compliment to Australia that it represented.

"It's an indication of the very close relationship between our two countries and I'm very pleased that during the time as prime minister I was able to contribute too," the former prime minister told ABC Radio.