The United Nations's top human rights forum has decided to launch talks on an international treaty that would hold corporations to account for abuses, despite resistance from the West. The 47-member UN Human Rights Council ruled that while countries have the prime responsiblity for upholding international law, businesses cannot be left off the hook. The treaty plan was the brainchild of Ecuador, SouthAfrica, Bolivia and Venezuela, which mustered 20 votes in favour, including from Russia, China and India.Fourteen countries voted against, including the United States, Japan and European Union members of the council, while 13 abstained, among them Brazil.Negotiations on a treaty are due to begin in 2015.Western nations said such a treaty was unnecessary, given that the council already adopted a set of guiding principles for corporations two years ago. India said those guidelines lacked teeth.