The United Nations has rushed to the defence of Gillian Triggs, urging the federal government to "respect the rule" of law in the protection of human rights and the Australian Human Rights Commission president's "high reputation".

The UN's working group on arbitrary detention has commended the work by the commission in its latest report, saying it considers the commission's statements on international law and human rights as "highly authoritative and their findings reliable".

The UN's working group on arbitrary detention has called on "national authorities" to respect the role and "high reputation" of Australian Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs. Credit:Daniel Munoz

Professor Triggs was heavily criticised by the Abbott government last week for its inquiry into children in immigration detention. Prime Minister Tony Abbott accused the commission of orchestrating a "transparent stitch-up" by releasing its report while the Coalition government was in power.

It was then revealed the government sought the resignation of Professor Triggs two weeks before it launched its extraordinary attack on the commission over its children in detention report.