Joel Filártiga

Joel Holden Filártiga Ferreira (15 August 1932 – 5 July 2019) was a Paraguayan doctor, artist and human rights activist. He became known for his human rights activism after his son, Joelito Filártiga, was killed by the police during the dictatorship of Alfredo Stroessner in 1976.

Biography Filártiga was born in Ybytimí, Paraguarí, on 15 August 1932.

Filártiga initially became known for offering health care to poor and indigenous peasants in a clinic that he opened in 1959 in the town of Ybycuí, in Paraguarí. Several of his works were part of special presentations in Paraguay and abroad.

He was portrayed by Anthony Hopkins in the 1991 television film One Man's War.

In November 2018, he was decorated by the Senate of Paraguay, which paid him a tribute for "his unwavering fight for health, freedom and justice."