Paris Hilton, the American socialite and media figure, testified before the US Congress about her harrowing experiences in youth residential treatment facilities as a teenager. In her emotional testimony to the House Ways and Means Committee on child welfare protections, Hilton shared how she was 'force-fed medications' and 'sexually abused by staff' during her institutionalization.
Hilton, an outspoken advocate for better protections for children in youth facilities, described her experience as isolating and traumatic. She was prevented from alerting her parents to the abuse because phone calls were monitored. Hilton called on lawmakers to pass the Stop Institutional Child Abuse act and support Title IV-B of the Social Security Act.
The reality TV star, who previously testified about her experiences at Provo Canyon School, characterized the 'troubled teen' industry as a $50bn business that includes therapeutic boarding schools, military-style boot camps, juvenile justice facilities and behavior-modification programs. She urged Congress to provide more oversight of residential youth programs and ensure children's rights.
Hilton's testimony comes after she detailed her shocking experiences in her 2020 memoir 'This is Paris.' The Provo Canyon School responded by stating that it was under different management and could not comment on the operations or student experience prior to that time.
The House Ways and Means Committee hearing aimed to strengthen oversight of child welfare programs, focusing on the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act, which would provide more transparency and accountability for youth residential treatment facilities. The committee also discussed reauthorizing Title IV-B of the Social Security Act to improve child welfare services.
