In response to allegations of abuse of eight American boys at a school in Jamaica, American socialite and entrepreneur Paris Hilton flew to Jamaica on Wednesday to advocate for the boys and to speak out against the “horrific” allegations.
In March, news broke that the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) in Jamaica had removed eight boys from the Atlantis Leadership Academy in Treasure Beach, following a welfare check on February 8 in which signs of abuse and neglect were observed. The welfare check has been conducted jointly with representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Kingston.
Atlantis Leadership Academy is a boarding school, which advertises itself as a faith-based school serving teenagers who are struggling with substance abuse, anxiety disorders, and defiant behavior.
Since news of the allegations broke, the facility has been under investigation. A formal court hearing related to the case took place on Wednesday.
In the press conference, hosted by Hilton’s nonprofit 11:11 Media Impact, the businesswoman said she wants to show support to the victims involved.
“My visit here is a show of support for the Jamaican action that has been taken and for encouraging the U.S. government at all levels to take this issue seriously and to act with urgency. While we wait for the government to take action, survivors will continue to uncover this broken system and expose those who are putting profits over the wellbeing of our most vulnerable youth. We will protect the powerless ourselves,” she said.
“Atlantis Leadership Academy is not a one-off program. This is a global issue that requires systemic change. American-owned youth residential programs are currently operating and housing vulnerable American youth in Mexico, Samoa, Costa Rica, St. Lucia, and many other locations around the world,” she added.
What happened to the boys?
The CPFSA has not publicly stated the nature of the reported abuse, however, U.S. Attorney Michael McFarland, who is representing the family of a 16-year-old boy who was attending the school, said allegations are that the boys were physically abused.
“They’re investigating allegations of physical abuse, which would include beatings, also chokeholds, restraints, things like that. And neglect, which would include, you know, withholding food and not getting proper nutrition to the boys,” McFarland told NationNews in an interview.
McFarland also shared that his client’s teenage son had lost a “significant” amount of weight since entering Atlantis Leadership Academy. McFarland said the family had sent their 16-year-old son to the St Elizabeth-based school to help with his “aggressive behavior.”
What has happened since the allegations?
The eight boys who allegedly suffered the abuse were removed from the academy following the welfare check.
Seven of the teens are being safeguarded in residential child care facilities, according to the CPFSA. Notably, an 18-year-old, who aged out of the children’s court jurisdiction, was returned to the United States in February.
The boys are between the ages of 14 and 18.
According to a report from US media outlet NewsNation last week, there has been no clear indication being provided by the Jamaican authorities to the families of the seven boys, about when they will be returned to the United States.
The CPFSA, however, said that it is collaborating with the International Social Services (ISS-USA) on home assessments to ensure that safe environments are in place for the teens upon their return to the U.S.
According to Paris Hilton, one boy was released at the court to his family on Wednesday, and another boy will be released on Monday.
Paris Hilton concluded the press conference by saying “I am grateful to local authorities for intervening to save American children. … This country is too beautiful and too kind, to host these kinds of facilities.”
