File Photo: The headquarters of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) named Palais Wilson, honoring the former United States president Woodrow Wilson, are seen in Geneva. AFP
In a statement on Tuesday, the OHCHR said it received "encouraging news from Cairo regarding human rights this week" after the activist was released from prison and reunited with his family on Monday.
El-Sisi pardoned Alaa and five other prisoners on Monday.
The move followed an appeal from the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), which petitioned on 8 September for clemency in a group of cases.
The UN office also welcomed President El-Sisi's decision on Sunday to return the draft Criminal Procedures Code to the House of Representatives for further examination.
The Egyptian presidency received the draft from the House of Representatives on 26 August, but since then, numerous appeals have been submitted to the president, urging reconsideration of certain provisions
The OHCHR said El-Sisi’s move “provides an important opportunity to ensure the draft law is brought into line with Egypt's international human rights obligations.”
It called on Egypt's parliament to "thoroughly address the human rights concerns previously raised by our office on the draft law.
These points include “broad discretionary powers for public prosecutors on pre-trial detention, interception of communications and travel bans, as well as accountability for the conduct of law enforcement personnel."
The UN office voiced its readiness to continue supporting the country on these issues.
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