“This is a day I will never forget,” Hilton began, expressing her pride and joy. After years of advocacy and sharing her personal story, the bill, which aims to regulate the safety, care, and treatment of youth in boarding schools, boot camps, and similar institutions, has officially passed.
The legislation focuses on improving best practices for the health, safety, and treatment of children in these facilities. It also ensures appropriate placement for youth and seeks to prevent abuse and mistreatment. Hilton’s post was accompanied by a powerful 20-photo carousel, including a picture of her standing on the steps of Capitol Hill holding a sign that read, “Children should not die in treatment.”
“This moment is proof that our voices matter, that speaking out can spark change, and that no child should ever endure the horrors of abuse in silence,” Hilton wrote. She dedicated the achievement to the younger version of herself and other youth who have suffered within the Troubled Teen Industry. The bill’s passage marks a significant win for Hilton, who has used her personal experience to advocate for change.
In the post, Hilton also acknowledged the impact of her podcast, Trapped in Treatment, where she shares her experience at the Provo Canyon School, a behavioral health center she attended as a teenager. In her 2020 documentary, This Is Paris, Hilton revealed the abuse she endured during her time there. She described the facility as one where, instead of focusing on academics, she was subjected to “screaming in my face, yelling at me, continuous torture.”
Hilton expressed gratitude to the survivors who spoke out, the families who supported them, and the coalition of lawmakers who helped bring the bill to fruition. She particularly thanked the legislators who assisted in pushing the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act through Congress.
Her post also highlighted the support of her family, including her husband, Carter Reum, and their children, Phoenix Barron Hilton Reum and London Marilyn Hilton Reum. Hilton's advocacy is deeply personal, driven by her desire to protect children currently trapped in similar systems.
Hilton’s efforts culminated in a historic vote: the bill passed the Senate unanimously on December 11 before receiving approval from the House of Representatives. It is now set to be presented to President Biden for final approval and to become law.
Hilton concluded her message with a powerful call to action: “And to the children still trapped in these systems: I will never stop fighting for you. Change is possible!”
This victory is a significant step forward in the ongoing fight to protect vulnerable youth from mistreatment in institutional settings. Hilton’s personal journey and tireless advocacy have brought much-needed attention to an issue that has affected many children across the U.S.
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