Flora Brovina
Flora Brovina (born 30 September 1949) is a Kosovar Albanian poet, pediatrician and women’s rights activist. She was born in Skenderaj and grew up in Pristina, where she began studying medicine. She finished medical studies in Zagreb, specializing in pediatrics, and then returned to Kosovo. She worked briefly as a journalist for the Albanian-language daily Rilindja before continuing her medical career in the Pediatrics Ward at Pristina General Hospital.
During the 1990s conflict in Kosovo, Brovina ran a health clinic in Pristina where she provided medical information and shelter for orphaned children, sometimes caring for up to 25 at a time.
On 20 April 1999, during the Kosovo War, she was abducted by eight masked Serbian paramilitaries and held in Serbia. After a period of intensive interrogation, she was sentenced to 12 years in prison in December 1999 for alleged terrorist activities. The verdict was overturned in 2000, and she was released in October 2001 following international pressure.
As a writer, Brovina published three volumes of poetry. Verma emrin tim (Call me by my name) appeared in 1973, Bimë e zë (Plant and voice) in 1979, and Mat e çmat (With the tape it measures) in 1995. Her work often explores the fate of women, motherhood, and the life of her people.
Her awards include the 1999 Tucholsky Prize from the Swedish PEN Club, the PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award, and the Heinrich Böll Foundation’s Human Rights Award.
After Kosovo declared independence, she ran for president in 2001 on the Democratic Party of Kosovo ticket. She has served as a Member of the Assembly of Kosovo in every legislative period and was acting chairwoman of the Assembly from 17 July to 8 December 2014, under President Atifete Jahjaga, succeeding Jakup Krasniqi and followed by Kadri Veseli.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 18:09 (CET).