Egypt's interior ministry is to train policemen in the use of sign language to deal with citizens with special needs, as it aims to boost compliance with the principles of human rights, according to a ministry statement on Thursday.

A team of sign translators from Egypt's state television has been selected to provide workshops to policemen from the ministry's human right department and others dealing with citizens.

The new move "stems from the ministry's keeness to conform to the standards and principles of human rights in all police departments," said the ministry.

The move is part of a cooperation deal with a federation of deaf and hearing-impaired associations that was first announced in June.

The move aims to provide better services to citizens with special needs, mainly the deaf and hearing impaired, and "make it easier for them to deal with the police."