"We have to talk to them and talk them down and let them know that the only way to go is through love and not with hatred. Hatred will never ever win, love in the end always wins."
During his speech, Schwarzenegger added: "For me to be here today is unbelievable because as you can imagine when you have been Mr Universe five times, Mr World, Mr International...you get a lot of trophies for your muscles - but this is a trophy for my heart."
The actor also said he has always felt compelled to advocate for equality because "I come from a country who's known to be a big part in the Second World War and have the most vicious Nazis".
Arnold Schwarzenegger speaking on stage at Holocaust Museum Los Angeles (Photo: Getty)
He continued: "I thought it was important to go out and let people know the next generation doesn't have to be the same, that the next generation can change."
The former governor of California also spoke about visiting the site of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp last year.
He said: "It was amazing to be there and see that first hand. I wrote in the book I'll be back because I will be back there with a whole bunch of Hollywood celebrities so they can see what went on there and put the spotlight on this issue."
Oscar-nominated film producer Mike Medavoy, who worked with Schwarzenegger on four films including The Terminator during his career, presented the actor with the award which was cut from cured oak wood in a nod to his bodybuilding nickname The Austrian Oak.
Several Second World War Holocaust survivors attended the ceremony, including Joseph Alexander, who turns 101 this month.
Alexander placed a flame in a miner's lamp in Schwarzenegger's honour on stage, which was then transported by police escort to the museum.
Schwarzenegger was born in Austria to a father who joined the Nazi party during the war. He was left injured fighting in Leningrad.
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