This was the thought of Swedish MEP Eva Britt-Svensson before she left her abusive husband. Being a public figure didn't make her immune to domestic violence and she wants all victims of domestic violence to know there is a way out. For International Wome

If I go home he will kill me

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/14909299/N001-100308-003-EN.srt

I had a very good marriage   for about 20 years.

After that something happened,   something I can't explain.

and beat me, threaten me,   he took all control over my life.

Eva-Britt Svensson,   Swedish politician since 1970.

Despite her public role she was a victim   of domestic violence as many others are.

Therefore she committed herself   into helping other battered women.

After a while it is like that,   you blame yourself in some way.

You can't understand   why it happens to you.

But a man in his workplace   always talks like that:

'Oh, you don't know   what she's doing, she's not at home,

she's working,   she's at political meetings and so on.'

I think that if you hear that often enough   you begin to think it yourself.

One day I got the feeling,   if I go back home today he will kill me.

So when I opened the door,   I told him: 'It's finished,

I must survive,   so today I'm not coming home.

I will go to a place   and I won't come home anymore.'

Think about when children will see   their father beating their mother.

So for your sake, for your life and for your   children's lives please leave him.

I can promise you can have   a much better life,