European Parliament president Antonio Tajani smeared red lipstick under his eye on Sunday to mark the UN's International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

The gesture was intended to call attention to domestic violence, with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo also taking part.

Mr Tajani later tweeted that "nothing can justify violence against women. My mother taught Me that. I taught it to my children".

According to the United Nations, a third of women worldwide have suffered from physical or sexual violence.