Paris Hilton has joined forces with lawmakers to introduce a new bill called the "Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act" aimed at ending abuse in the troubled teen industry.
The bipartisan group of lawmakers made the announcement at the Capitol on Thursday, where Hilton shared her own harrowing experiences of abuse while attending such programs as a teenager.
By advocating for reforms in the industry, Hilton hopes to prevent others from enduring similar trauma.
Paris Hilton's Ongoing Advocacy To End Child Abuse
According to FOX5, Paris Hilton, who has been an outspoken advocate for reforming the troubled teen industry, appeared alongside Senators Jeff Merkley, John Cornyn, and Tommy Tuberville, as well as Representatives Ro Khanna and Buddy Carter, at a press conference held at the Capitol on Thursday.
Together, they announced the introduction of a new bill aimed at ending abuse in institutional youth treatment programs.
Hilton expressed her commitment to the cause, saying that she is using all means available to her to advocate for the well-being of these children.
She expressed her concern for children who lack support from their families and who are in the juvenile justice and foster care systems, emphasizing their vulnerability and lack of representation.
The proposed "Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act" would provide greater oversight and data transparency for institutional youth treatment programs, as well as implement urgent recommendations for developing robust information sharing systems among states.
In addition, it would facilitate the sharing of effective strategies for recognizing and stopping institutional mistreatment of minors.
As per Insider, the term "troubled teen" industry pertains to an assortment of residential therapy centers across the nation that seek to aid young people grappling with psychological or behavioral difficulties.
Nonetheless, numerous programs have been charged with instances of sexual, emotional, and physical mistreatment, and several teenagers have perished while enrolled in these establishments.
Critics argue that the programs continue to operate with too little government oversight and without sufficient consequences for abusive centers, which allows them to profit off the abuse of vulnerable children.
Hilton recounted her distressing encounters at four comparable establishments in her adolescence, describing how she was sent to each of them from 16 to 18 years old, with each experience worse than the previous one.
She revealed how she observed and encountered sexual misconduct from adult personnel, and how she also suffered from verbal and emotional abuse.
She added that the staff would immediately hang up the phone and punish her whenever she attempted to tell her parents about the abuse on the phone.
The Troubled Teen Industry
Paris Hilton has been using her platform and voice to advocate for the end of child abuse, supporting lawmakers and organizations working towards this cause. This issue is particularly personal for Hilton.
According to CNN, this revelation comes after she opened up about her own traumatic experience with physical and emotional abuse at the Provo Canyon School, a boarding school for troubled teens in Utah, in the 2020 documentary "This is Paris."
In 2022, Hilton was also seen at the White House, discussing new legislation that aims to strengthen protections for children in residential programs and facilities.
She has also supported the Federal Accountability for Congregate Care Act, which includes creating a Youth in Congregate Care Bill of Rights, establishing a joint commission for research into institutional abuse, and providing funding to address systemic issues.
